Fantasy Face-Off: Cotchin v Dangerfield

Fantasy Face-Off: Trent Cotchin v Patrick Dangerfield
The Tiger superstar or the rampaging Crow - who do you choose?

TRENT COTCHIN

PATRICK DANGERFIELD

Fantasy position

Midfielder

Midfielder

2013 price

$570,200

$525,000

2012 average

110.68

101.91

2012 high score

152

142

Age

22

22

X-factor, Rising Star or Mr Reliable?

Mr Reliable. Cotchin played all 22 games last season en route to a second consecutive best and fairest award. He topped 100 Dream Team points 17 times, including six of 120 or better, and will captain the Tigers in 2013.

Mr Reliable. Dangerfield also played all 22 regular season games, plus Adelaide's three finals, in comfortably his best season in the competition. He did have the occasional down game, with four scores of 71 points or less in 2012.

Value for money

The young Tiger is the sixth most expensive player in the competition, but with good reason. He has overcome some injury issues from earlier in his career, currently on a 46-game playing streak, and regularly fills out the stat sheet, leading to big AFL Fantasy returns.

When he is on song, Dangerfield is capable of recording seriously impressive AFL Fantasy numbers. Now an elite player in an elite team, he's slightly under-priced and represents decent value as the 16th most expensive AFL Fantasy option.

Job security

The captain, the budding superstar, the Brownlow Medal runner-up. He will be the first player picked for the Tigers every week.

Such a difficult match-up, he also has very little to worry about when it comes to job security in the Crows' best 22.

Injury history

There were some concerns over Cotchin's durability early in his career, with ankle, Achilles heel and hip injuries blunting his progress. However he hasn't missed a game for two years so those doubts have now been erased.

A back strain suffered back in 2009 was a minor inconvenience, but otherwise Dangerfield is an extremely durable player. He hasn't missed a game since round 19, 2010.

The case for

A selection no brainer, particularly if you fancy the Tigers to rise this year. He plays regularly, he racks up possessions, kicks goals, lays tackles and even enjoyed a 51-16 return in free kicks for and against last season.

Averaging just under 27 disposals, up from 17 in 2011, Dangerfield was a worthy first-time All Australian. A clearance beast, he led the AFL for inside 50s last year and kicked 23 goals of his own.

The case against

Could the pressure of a first stint at captaincy hold him back?

Unless Brenton Sanderson has a dastardly plan to return Dangerfield to the forward line, only injury can curtail this AFL Fantasy superstar.

The verdict

Picking between two young, fit midfield maestros is a win-win scenario. Dangerfield is a little bigger and stronger, but Cotchin is marginally more consistent and the Tiger just gets the nod.